Method and apparatus for strengthening hand grip

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method to strengthen the hand grip of an individual. The apparatus includes a manipulable arcuate object shaped and dimensioned to be manually grasped. The manipulable arcuate object includes a rigid hard core and a strap configured to be attached to a desired fixed object. The strap is inset in the manipulable arcuate object to facilitate a user&#39;s securely holding the object.

This invention relates to exercise and exercise apparatus.

Those of ordinary skill in the art have for many years endeavored to design and produce improved exercise equipment and improved methodology to utilize exercise equipment.

Accordingly, it would be highly desirable to provide an improved exercise apparatus and an improved method for utilizing such apparatus.

Therefore, it is an object of the instant invention to provide an improved exercise apparatus, namely an exercise apparatus for strengthening the hand grip of an individual.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved method for an individual to improve the strength of his or his handgrip.

These objects, along with other and further objects of the invention, will be apparent to those of skill in the art from the following detailed description thereof, taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top section view illustrating an exercise apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side section view illustrating the exercise apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an alternate embodiment of the exercise apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view illustrating a construction method utilized in producing apparatus used in the invention;

FIG. 5 is a side section view illustrating another alternate embodiment of the exercise apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a first half of a spherical member utilized in a further embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a second half of said spherical member utilized in said further embodiment of the invention, said second half of interfitting with the half illustrated in FIG. 6 to produce a generally spherically shaped member;

FIG. 8 is a section view illustrating the generally spherically shaped member produced when the halves illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 are joined;

FIG. 9 is a side view illustrating the mode of operation of the apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating still another embodiment of the invention; and,

FIG. 11 is a perspective illustrating one of many hand grips which can be utilized to grasp a spherically shaped member during utilization of the apparatus of the invention.

Briefly, in accordance with the invention, provided is improved exercise apparatus to strengthen the hand grip of an individual. The apparatus comprises a hard substantially rigid and non-elastic core having an outer surface; an elastic, compressible cover extending over and substantially completely enclosing the core, the core and the cover being shaped and dimensioned to produce a manipulable arcuate object capable of being gripped and held by a hand of the individual; an aperture formed through the manipulable arcuate object, the aperture extending from a first opening on a first side of the arcuate object to a second opening on a second side of the arcuate object; a tongue extending through at least a portion of the aperture, the tongue having first and second sides and having first and second ends; first and second passageways formed on the first and second sides of the tongue, respectively, and each extending between the first opening and the second opening; and, a strap extending from outside the arcuate object, through the first opening, through the first passageway, around the first end of the tongue, through the second passageway, and back through the first opening.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, provided is an improved exercise apparatus to strengthen the hand grip of an individual. The apparatus comprises a hard substantially rigid and non-elastic core having an outer surface; an elastic, compressible cover extending over and substantially completely enclosing the core, the core and the cover being shaped and dimensioned to produce a manipulable arcuate object capable of being gripped and held by a hand of the individual; an aperture formed through the manipulable arcuate object, the aperture extending from a first opening on a first side of the arcuate object to a second opening on a second side of the arcuate object; a tongue extending through at least a portion of the aperture, the tongue having first and second sides and having first and second ends; first and second passageways formed on the first and second sides of the tongue, respectively, and each extending between the first opening and the second opening; and, a strap extending from outside the arcuate object, through the first opening, through the first passageway, around the first end of the tongue, through the second passageway, and back through the first opening. The strap includes a distal end positioned away from the arcuate object. A connector is attached to the distal end.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, provided is an improved exercise apparatus to strengthen the hand grip of an individual. The apparatus comprises a hard substantially rigid and non-elastic core having an outer surface; an elastic, compressible cover extending over and substantially completely enclosing the core, the core and the cover being shaped and dimensioned to produce a manipulable arcuate object capable of being gripped and held by a hand of the individual; an aperture formed through the manipulable arcuate object, the aperture extending from a first opening on a first side of the arcuate object to a second opening on a second side of the arcuate object; a tongue extending through at least a portion of the aperture, the tongue having first and second sides and having first and second ends; first and second passageways formed on the first and second sides of the tongue, respectively, and each extending between the first opening and the second opening; and, a strap extending from outside the arcuate object, through the first opening, through the first passageway, around the first end of the tongue, through the second passageway, and back through the first opening. The strap includes a distal end spaced apart from the arcuate object. The distal end includes a loop shaped and dimensioned to permit the arcuate object to pass through said strap.

Turning now to the drawings, in which like characters refer to corresponding elements throughout the several views and which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention without limiting the scope of the invention, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an exercise apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention and including a hard substantially rigid and non-elastic spherical core 11 having a spherical outer surface 11A or another generally arcuate outer surface; an elastic, compressible cover 15 extending over and substantially completely enclosing the core 11, the core and the cover being shaped and dimensioned to produce a manipulable arcuate object 10 capable of being gripped and held by a hand of the individual; an aperture 12 formed through the manipulable arcuate object, the aperture extending from a first opening 14 on a first side of the arcuate object to a second opening 13 on a second side of the arcuate object; a tongue 18 extending through at least a portion of the aperture, the tongue 18 having first and second sides and having first and second ends; first and second 12A, 12B passageways formed on the first and second sides of the tongue 18, respectively, and each extending between the first opening and the second opening; and, a strap 16 have a portion 17 extending from outside the arcuate object, through the first opening, through the first passageway, around the first end of the tongue, through the second passageway, and back through the first opening. The strap includes a distal end 55 (FIGS. 9, 10) positioned away from the arcuate object. A carabiner 56 or other connector can be attached to the distal end 55.

As is illustrated in FIG. 9, the distal end 55 can comprise or include a loop, and the loop can be sized to permit arcuate object 10 to pass through the loop in the manner indicated by arrow A in FIG. 9. When the loop at end 55 permits object 10 to pass therethrough, then the exercise apparatus of the invention is readily secured to a horizontal bar or rod 58A by simply positioning the exercise apparatus in the manner illustrated in FIG. 9 and passing object 10—in the manner indicated by arrow A—over rod 58A and through loop 55.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 3, end 17A of strap 16 is positioned in a mold and material injected into the mold extends through and around and encapsulates a portion of end 17A.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 4, the hard non-elastic core of the exercise apparatus of the invention is produced by first preparing a top half 19 with downwardly projecting nipples 21 and 23, by the preparing the bottom half 20 with apertures formed therein to receive nipples 21 and 23, and by then gluing together the top half 19 and bottom half 20 to form a core having a generally spherical shape.

The arcuate object 10C and strap 16 illustrated in FIG. 5 are quite similar to object 10 and strap 16, respectively. In object 10C, however, the length of tongue 18A is greater than the length of tongue 18.

FIGS. 6 to 8 illustrate another embodiment of the invention in which semi-spherical halves 30 and 31 are first molded separately and then glued or otherwise fastened together to form a hard, rigid core. Each half 30 and 31—and the resulting core—preferably are non-elastic such that when an individual manually grasps and squeezes the core with a hand, or with both hands, the core will not compress. One material presently preferred in fabricating halves 30 and 31 is a PVC (polyvinyl chloride)—fiberglass mixture comprising about 30% fiberglass and 70% PVC.

Semi-spherical half 30 includes an aperture 38 formed completely through half 30, and includes cylindrical feet 32 to 34, 59 outwardly depending from generally circular surface 39.

Semi-spherical half 31 includes an aperture 41 formed completely therethrough, and includes cylindrical detents 35 to 37, 58 formed therein. Detents 35 to 37, 58 each extend inwardly from generally circular surface 40. Each detent 35 to 37, 58 is shaped to slidably receive and conform to a foot 34, 32, 33, 59, respectively, when halves 30 and 31 are joined together in the manner illustrated in FIG. 8. As is illustrated in FIG. 8, half 31 also includes apertures 53 and 54 extending into half 31. When an elastic outer coating is applied to the exterior of the core illustrated in FIG. 8, some of the material comprising the outer coating flows into and fills apertures 53 and 54, this to help anchor the elastic outer coating on the core.

Tapered, generally orthogonal tongue 42 is integrally formed as a part of half 31 and extends outwardly from surface 40. When halves 30 and 31 are joined in the manner illustrated in FIG. 8, opposing sides 45 and 46 of tongue 42 extend from half 31 up through aperture 38 of half 30. Side 44 and its opposing side (not visible) extend upwardly through half 30, but also terminate at surface 40 because side 44 and its opposing side are integrally formed with and fixedly attached to opposing sides of aperture 41. Opening 47 is at the outer end of aperture 41.. Opening 48 is at the opening end of aperture 38 (FIG. 8). Nipple 49 is integrally formed in half 30 such that when halves 30 and 31 are joined in the manner illustrated in FIG. 8, nipple 49 seats on the end 43 of tongue 42.

Apertures 51 and 52 are formed in and comprise portions of aperture 41. Aperture 52 extends upwardly from opening 47 intermediate side 46 and inner surface 52A of aperture 41. Aperture 51 extends upwardly from opening 47 intermediate side 45 of tongue 42 and inner surface 51A of aperture 41.

After halves 30 and 31 are joined in the manner illustrated in FIG. 8 to form core 10B, a compressible rubber or other polymer or material is applied to the core 10B to form a cover comparable to cover 15 in FIGS. 1 and 2. The cover is applied such that openings are formed through the cover which are in registration with openings or windows 47 and 48 so that openings 47, 48 are not sealed, but remain open. Once the cover is applied, a manipulable arcuate object comparable to object 10 is produced. A first end of a strap (not shown in FIG. 8) is threaded into opening 47, upwardly through aperture 52, through aperture 38 adjacent side 46 of tongue 42, upwardly over nipple 49, downwardly through aperture 38 adjacent side 45 of tongue 42, downwardly through aperture 51, and out through opening 47. The first end of the strap is then stitched or otherwise secured to a remaining portion of the strap in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, 5.

One virtue of the particular kind of construction illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 5, 6 to 9 is that a strap 16 is securely housed in a core 11, 10B such that it is unlikely that the strap will separate or be pulled free from the manipulable arcuate object. A second virtue is that the portion of the strap extending around nipple 49 (FIG. 8) or the top 18A (FIG. 2) of a tongue 18, 42 is recessed in the manipulable arcuate object away from the exterior surface of the elastic polymer cover of the object. Another virtue of the construction is that strap 16 can be visually examined through window or opening 48 to determine if strap 16 is wearing.

Pliable strap 16 is constructed from ballistic nylon or another non-elastic material. While strap 16 can, if desired, be elastic and resilient in the same manner as cover 15, strap 16 preferably is not elastic. The primary function of strap 16 is to facilitate the attachment of the gripable manipulable arcuate object 10 to a desired anchor structure. The desired anchor structure can, by way of example and not limitation, comprise a fixed bar on an exercise machine, a piece of elastic tubing, etc.

In use, the apparatus of FIG. 9 or 10 is attached to a desired anchor structure by using carabiner 56 (FIG. 10), by threading the manipulable arcuate object over a rod 58A and through a loop in distal end 55 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 9, or by any other desired means. The manipulable arcuate object 10 is then grasped to compress the cover 15, and, a user pulls object 10 outwardly away from the desired anchor structure.

Although the shape and dimension of the manipulable arcuate object 10 can vary as desired, in one preferred embodiment of the invention, object 10 has a size and weight (5.3 oz) comparable to that of a baseball (or softball). Object 10 can be gripped by using any of the various grips found in baseball or by using any other desired grip. For example, in FIG. 11, the grip illustrated could be utilized by a pitcher intending to throw a particular kind of pitch. Object 10 is normally gripped so that the point at which a strap 16 exits the manipulable arcuate object is not covered or contacted by the hand of the user which is grasping object 10, and, so that the user's hand extends over the opening 48 (FIG. 8) which is spaced apart from the inset portion of strap 16 extending over and around the top 18A of a tongue 18 (FIGS. 2, 8). The inset of the portion of strap 16 extending over and around the top 18A of tongue 18, along with the elastic, compressible cover 15, facilitates a user being able to grip and hold manipulable arcuate object 10 while attempting to pull object 10 away from a fixed desired anchor structure.

Having described my invention in such terms understandable to those of ordinary skill in the art, and having set forth presently preferred embodiment thereof, I Claim: 

1. Exercise apparatus to strengthen the hand grip of an individual, said apparatus comprising (a) a hard substantially rigid and non-elastic core having an outer surface; (b) an elastic, compressible cover extending over and substantially completely enclosing said core, said core and said cover being shaped and dimensioned to produce a manipulable arcuate object capable of being gripped and held by a hand of the individual; (c) an aperture formed through said manipulable arcuate object, said tongue extending from a first opening on a first side of said arcuate object to a second opening on a second side of said arcuate object; (d) a tongue extending through at least a portion of said aperture, said tongue having first and second sides and having first and second ends; (e) first and second passageways formed on said first and second sides of said tongue, respectively, and each extending between said first opening and said second opening; (f) a strap extending from outside said arcuate object, through said first opening, through said first passageway, around said first end of said tongue, through said second passageway, and back through said first opening.
 2. Exercise apparatus to strengthen the hand grip of an individual, said apparatus comprising (a) a hard substantially rigid and non-compressible core having an outer surface; (b) an elastic, compressible cover extending over and substantially completely enclosing said core, said core and said cover being shaped and dimensioned to produce a manipulable arcuate object capable of being gripped and held by a hand of the individual; (c) an aperture formed through said manipulable arcuate object, said tongue extending from a first opening on a first side of said arcuate object to a second opening on a second side of said arcuate object; (d) a tongue extending through at least a portion of said aperture, said tongue having first and second sides and having first and second ends; (e) first and second passageways formed on said first and second sides of said tongue, respectively, and each extending between said first opening and said second opening; (f) a strap extending from outside said arcuate object, through said first opening, through said first passageway, around said first end of said tongue, through said second passageway, and back through said first opening, said strap including a distal end positioned away from said arcuate object; and. (g) a connector attached to said distal end.
 3. Exercise apparatus to strengthen the hand grip of an individual, said apparatus comprising (a) a hard substantially rigid and non-compressible core having an outer surface; (b) an elastic, compressible cover extending over and substantially completely enclosing said core, said core and said cover being shaped and dimensioned to produce a manipulable arcuate object capable of being gripped and held by a hand of the individual; (c) an aperture formed through said manipulable arcuate object, said tongue extending from a first opening on a first side of said arcuate object to a second opening on a second side of said arcuate object; (d) a tongue extending through at least a portion of said aperture, said tongue having first and second sides and having first and second ends; (e) first and second passageways formed on said first and second sides of said tongue, respectively, and each extending between said first opening and said second opening; (f) a strap extending from outside said arcuate object, through said first opening, through said first passageway, around said first end of said tongue, through said second passageway, and back through said first opening, said strap including a distal end spaced apart from said arcuate object, said distal end including a loop shaped and dimensioned to permit said arcuate object to pass through said strap. 